“Thirdly, those meetings for this end we conceive may be of two sorts.
“1. Monthly, of some of the elders and messengers of the churches.
“2. Annual, of all the messengers and elders of the churches.
“First. Monthly, of some: first, those members of churches which are nearest together, and so may most conveniently assemble together, may, by mutual agreement, once in a month, consult of such things as make for the good of the churches.
“Secondly. The time of this meeting may be sometimes at one place, sometimes at another, upon the lecture day of every church where lectures are: and let the lecture that day be ended by eleven of the clock.
“Thirdly. Let the end of this assembly be to do nothing by way of authority, but by way of counsel, as the need of churches shall require.
“Secondly, annual, of all the elders within our jurisdiction or others, whereto the churches may send once in the year to consult together for the public welfare of all the churches.
“First. Let the place be sometimes at one church, sometimes at another, as reasons for the present may require.
“Secondly. Let all the churches send their weighty questions and cases, six weeks or a month before the set time, to the church where the assembly is to be held, and the officers thereof disperse them speedily to all the churches, that so they may have time to come prepared to the discussing of them.
“Thirdly. Let this assembly do nothing by authority, but only by counsel, in all cases which fall out, leaving the determination of all things to particular churches within themselves, who are to judge and so to receive all doctrines and directions agreeing only with the word of God.”